Public radio launches new urban initiative

Pennsylvania's public media stations are enhancing coverage of the commonwealth's cities with a new two-year grant from the Corporation of Public Broadcasting.

Reporting teams from WESA and WQED in Pittsburgh are among five in Pennsylvania who will be taking a closer look at the problems facing cities like Pittsburgh, Scranton, Altoona and others.

"The data-driven, multimedia approach will aim to sustain a connected, contextualized, statewide reporting on urban challenges," said a statement on the website of WITF, which is another of the stations involved. It said it would build on what was learned by StateImpact Pennsylvania, another public-media program from throughout Pennsylvania that focuses on the energy industry.